Locking in the Snow!

 3 Locks, 3.58 Miles in the snow. Now moored at Brownsover.

A week before Xmas going down  Hillmorton Locks and it's snowing.

Winter arrived with a vengeance last night. Howling winds to send us off to sleep and a smattering of snow to wake up to. With all this in mind we decided that we would be wise to move up to Brownsover or Newbold where we are closer to civilisation should the canal freeze over. Tracey is due to arrive on Monday for Christmas so we wanted to be handy to the bus stop.

Derek gets a helping hand while his helper waits for her boat to arrive.

We waited until mid morning in the hope of a rise in the temperature, some hope there, before casting off and guess what, it started to snow again and quite heavily. Dot opted to drive while I did the locks and she complained that at times she couldn’t see where she was going. After going through the Hillmorton locks we stopped to top up the water but had to wait in the queue as 2 other boats were already there. They apparently had to defrost the stand pipes before they could get any water. I will now have to get into the habit of draining our water hose after each use to ensure we don’t have any problems on this score.

That snow is getting deeper.

As we have a visitor over Christmas we called into Clifton Cruisers for a pump out even though we didn’t need one at this time but there again, if the canal freezes over we could find ourselves in dire straits if we didn’t. With Christmas greetings exchanged with Paul, his family and staff it was off to Brownsover in the hope of a mooring. We needn’t have worried because as we turned the final bend who should we spy but Carrie and Bungie (the dog) walking along the towpath. Derek was back on Nb Uccello moored up just around the corner and we have moored in front of them. (They are faced the opposite way after arriving from All Oaks Woods just before us).

Yes, that's the sun up there trying to put in an appearance.

After a late lunch it was off to Tesco’s for some immediate requirements and a check on the special deals on offer. No doubt we will be paying them a few more visits before Santa arrives. Tonight looks like it’s going to be the coldest night so far with a temperature of –1.1⁰C at present and still dropping.

Just as well he's wrapped up well.

 2034 locks, 4042.26 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006